Arts center gallery named after director

During a surprise ceremony at the end of its monthly meeting, the Lawrence Arts Center board of directors named the center’s gallery The Ann Evans Gallery.

“All I can do is cry,” said Evans, the center’s executive director, after she unveiled the wall sculpture created by Lawrence artist Ron Hinton to commemorate the naming. He crafted a smaller version of the bronze and stainless steel piece for Evans to take home. Both include a photo etching of Evans.

“It’s a bit much, the thought of having the gallery named for me,” she said. “It’s an incredible honor.”

The board voted last year at its annual meeting to name the gallery after Evans, who’s been director since the center opened in 1975. She said she had forgotten about the honor until the moment it was announced.

Students suspended after incidents

A student at Southwest Junior High School was suspended for inhaling art supplies, a district official said Thursday.

Julie Boyle, the district’s communications director, said a report was filed with Lawrence Police regarding an eighth-grade boy suspected of theft and misuse of school supplies.

The Southwest student was suspended for five days, she said.

Ann Evans, director of the Lawrence Arts Center, receives a sculpture with a photo etching of herself. The center's board of directors gave the gift to Evans Thursday -- and named the gallery at the arts center, 940 N.H., after her.

Meanwhile, a seventh-grader at South Junior High School was suspended for three days for striking another student after school.

Kline to appeal Sunday liquor decision

Topeka — Atty. Gen. Phill Kline plans to appeal a court’s finding that state law contains a loophole that allows Sunday liquor sales in Wyandotte County.

Kline said Thursday the decision by Wyandotte County District Judge John J. Bukaty Jr. could allow cities to exempt themselves from other provisions of state laws on alcohol, such as the legal drinking age of 21.

Bukaty found that the Liquor Control Act did not apply to all cities and counties uniformly, which means local governments can “charter out” of the state ban on Sunday liquor sales. The Kansas Constitution gives cities “home rule” power over their internal affairs when a state law is not applied uniformly.

The city of Edwardsville and the Unified Government of Kansas City and Wyandotte County approved Sunday sales last year.

Kline said he would file his appeal with the Kansas Court of Appeals but ask the Kansas Supreme Court to take the case early.